Rita Turflinger joined FWCS in 1968 where she was a classroom teacher for 26 years. She served 15 years in elementary education, and 11 years at the middle school level. She accepted the position of Assistant Principal, first at Miami Middle School, and later at Kekionga Middle School. She was appointed Principal at Memorial Park Middle School in 1997 where she served until being selected for her current position as Middle School Area Administrator in 2004.

The Middle School Area Administrator is responsible for supervising all 10 middle schools as well as Towles Intermediate School.

Ms. Turflinger earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1968, and the Master of Arts degree in 1972, both from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne. She received her administrative license at IPFW in 1994. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Indiana Middle Level Education Association and is active in numerous other professional organizations.

Rita is the mother of two sons. The oldest is the President of the Chamber of Commerce in Oslo, Norway, and the younger is studying law and international business at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana.